Mold for attaching rail bonds



March 9 1926. E. J. SHULER MOLD FOR ATTAGHING RAIL BONDS Eve/@221; W

Original Filed Nov. 22 1913 1 LIL III: jf T i' ab /2g Patented Mar. 9, 1926.

UNITED STATES 1,576,2n PATENT OFFECE.

EARL J. SHULER, OF NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA, ASSIGNOR TO RAIL WELDING AND I BONDING COMPANY,OF EAST CLEVELAND, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

MOLD FOR ATTACHING RAIL BONDS.

Application filed November 22, 1918, Serial- No. 263,723. Renewed November 6, 1925.

Z 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that EARL J. SHULER, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at New Orleans, in the parish of Orleans, and State of Louisiana, has invented certain new and useful Improvements in Molds for Attaching Bail Bonds, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in molds for attaching electrical bonds to railway rails, and has for its object the provision of a structure which is better adapted to permit the cast-welding of copper bonds to the ends of rails, preferably by the negative terminal of an electric are, such as is described in the patent to J. (3. Lincoln, No. 1,183,992, May 23rd, 1916.

In said patent there is shown a carbon mold adapted to receive the ends of a copper bond; in which mold the head of each terminal is separately secured by cast-Welding the same directly to the respective ends of the electrically united rails.

My present invention contemplates a composite carbon and copper-faced mold, wherein the heads or terminals of the bond may be more readily andefi'ectively castwelded, than in. any prior mold. Briefly described, the device of my invention comprises a frame removably attachable to the rail ends, wherein a copper-bottomed form is provided for receiving the renewable carbon mold-block. Two sliding copper members are adapted to close upon the ends of the bond, when the same are inserted within the mold. The features ofthis do; vice may best be explained by referring to the accompanying drawings, wherein 2- Fig. 1 is a plan view showing the device and two rail ends operativelyassociated.

Fig. 2 is a view thereof in side elevation. Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view through the rail, and an end view of the device.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged view of the frame with the mold-block removed therefrom.

Fig. 5 is a face view of the device and Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view of the attach ing clip. Throughout the several figures of the drawings I have employed the same character of reference to indicate similar parts. 7

It is assumed that the rail ends a, b, are't-o be electrically united, over which the at taching clips 0, 0 are positioned to hold the frame d of the mold with its copper bottonr members cl closely in engagement with said rails; said frame being supported by the spring member or bar a". The copper Slides 0 are inwardly pressed by a spring 0 and are held in place by the reversible moldblock f of carbon, which has spaces or openings upon either side wherein the terminals of the bonds are adapted to be cast-welded. These spaces f register with the openings between the members d, through which the ends of the bond 9 protrude and are held by the slides 6. Clip 0 is hinged at 0 Fig. 6.

The advantage of providing a carbon mold-block, whereby oxidation of the copperis minimized, obviously obtains in the structure of my invention. In addition, however, the copper members, formingin" this instance only the bottom faces for the mold, serve as heatconducting members which rapidlyradiate the intense heat of the electric arc whereby the copper of the termi nal is fused with the surface of the rail end to I produce a head upon each end of the bond. This adjacent body of copper, not only assists materially in perfecting a better cast-welded terminal for the bond, but serves in addition, to stabilize the'arc, which pref erably is the negative carbon-electrode, during the fusion of the bond, the surface of the I rail end, and the additional copper ordinarily supplied to complete'the body of the cast welded terminal. The fused copper immediatelylsolidifies in spaces 7.

My inventioncontemplates the provision of a mold having a wall or walls of maxi mum heat-conducting properties, such as copper, wherein the cast-welding operation may be most advantageously effected; said mold optionally having a carbon wall or walls, as well, for securing the'well-known advantages to beattained thereby.

The copper members d, it will be observed, are positioned so that they are engaged directly with the bodies of the rail heads, and in consequence serve to convey by conduction, a portion of the heat from the arc, which although extremely intense, is relatively small in amount. In addition toserving as a support for the mold block the metal. framework, as well as the copper portions associated therewith, supplies the important function of a chill member for the molten metal of the bond terminal, whereby the heat is rapidly conducted away and radiated by the body of the frame;

This frame is normally in contact with both 'heads of the bond during the welding opercient results are secured than When my im- 7 proved appliance is not used. I may term thestructure shown and described a chillshie'ld member.

Having now described the preferred embodiment of my invention, 1 claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent,the following 1. A mold for attaching rail bon-ds having -a bottom portion formed of copper and an upper refractory portion, said copper portion being adaptedto be-engaged directly with the body of the rail for conducting away the h'ea't, substantially as set forth.

2. A mold for attaching rail bonds having 'a bottom portion formed of 'copper and an upper refractory portion, said copper portion being'adap't'ed to have the bondfhea'd cast-welded directly thereon and -pos1t1oned to be engaged with the body 0f the rail as well for dissipatingjthe heat, substantially asset forth 3. A anold for attaching rail bonds having a bottom portion open to receive 'the end of the bond and closely embrace the same and an upper recessed carbon portion;- the said bottom portion being forme'dof copper and adapted to be engaged directly w-ith'ithe rail for conducting away the heat, substantially as set forth. y

4. A imold iforattachin g rail b'ondsy'comprising :a reversible carbon mold block and a separable two-part conductive member formed of copper, Psaid copper member being {open .at the bottomto embracethe end of the bond and adapted ftoengage the body of the rail when in use, substantially asset forth.

.5. .A mold :for cast-welding :rail lbOIldS, comprising "a :reeepta'cl'e for the en'dsof :the bond; said receptacle rbeing provided with walls of copper :and of carbon, substantially asset forth. I

6. In an appliance for-'cast-welding elec-' trio bonds upon rail ends, the "combination with a metallic frame, of a carbon mold block mounted thereon, :a laterally :extending spring :member supporting the frame, and rail clips terminatingsaid 1nember,:substantially as set forth. 1

7. lin'an 'app'ance of the class described, the combination with :a mold member, of :a bowed spring member supporting thesame, and clipsfor attaching the ilatter to the railends; one of which is hinged "to fit more readily over the .rail, substantially as set forth.

A i 8. In an appliance of the 'class described,

the same having'walls of highly conductive properties .as to heat, .and walls having reducing properties, of means for removably attaching the-appliance to the rail-ends, substantially as set forth.

9. lln-an appliance of the class described, the combination with a mold member recessed to receive the inserted end of -bond the 'same having refractory walls of high thermal conductivity, of a metallic member also of high thermal conductivity adapted to engage and hold said bond, substant ally as set' forth.

'10. A mold for attaching rail bonds, comprising a recessed mold member having two-part relatively movable wall-members formed of metal possessing high thermal conductivity adapted to engage and hold the inserted en d of the bond and having roar bonlmold walls, and means for removably attaching the device to the rail ends, substantially :as .set forth.

11. A device used in securing .ra i l bonds to rails, comprising in combination .-'a bar, means to engage a rail to hold the :device in working position :and means secured (to the bar to engage :and hold a bond terminal imposition on a :rail and.simultaneously:cliill the terminal andshield t is heating flameor arc while installing the bond iterminal, :substantially EELS set- "forth.

12. A device used in securing rail bonds to rails, comprising :in combination :a ibar, means adapted to :secure the device in working position, and a chill-shield member :as described,substantially as set forth.

.A device used in rwe'lding rail bonds to.:rails, comprising in combinationia bar, means to hold the device in :position, and metallic means secured to the hm adapted to chill the bond, substantially :as set forth.

k 14'. A device .used in weldingrail ibondsito rails comprising Foombination a bar and a chill-shield member'securedthereto for the intent and purpose described.

- 15 The combination 'Wi-tha and .'a rail bond positioned thereon' for welding, ao'f a device radapted to chill ath-ebon'd terminal and protect the Welding :are from iatmospheric changes, substantially as set forth.

16. The combination with ea mail and a rail bond positioned thereon for welding, of

a device :adapted to rapidly conduct the heat tion with respect to the rail members, and means securing the above named -members in position on the rail, substantially as set forth.

18. A device used in bonding rails, comprising in combination a body member, a metallic chillshield member for conducting and absorbing heat from the, bond terminal and preventing vertical air drafts about the terminal and provided with means for preventing horizontal air drafts about the terminal, and means for securing the above parts in position on a rail, substantially as set forth. r

19. The method of welding rail bonds to rails consisting in positioning the bonds to the rail and applying them to a metallic device adapted to rapidly absorb and conduct heat from the terminal and protect the terminal from atmospheric changes and then applying an electric arc to the terminal and rail to bring them to a proper temperature to melt attaching metal.

20. The method of attaching rail bonds, substantially as herein set forth, comprising the support of a bond in a heat-conducting and radiating member, adjusting the end of the bond to the rail end, applying the electric arc to said bond and rail locally to secure fusion, meantime effectively conducting away the excess of heat, and applyingadditional molten metal to the bond to form a terminal integral therewith and with the rail.

21. The method of attaching electric rail bonds, substantially as herein set forth,

comprising supporting the bond terminals in a closely embracing heat-conductive metallic frame work containing copper and carbon portions, engaging the ends of the bonds Wit-lithe rails, applying the electric ing refractory walls surrounding the terminal wherein it may be welded upon the side of the rail, and means for temporarily positioning the appliance and bond upon the rail ends, substantially as set forth.

23. Means for attaching electric bonds to rail ends, comprising a metallic support of high conductivity adapted to engage the end of the bond and protect the body thereof, upstanding refractory walls between which the terminal may be welded upon the end of bond and the side of the rail by a partially enclosed arc and means for temporarily positioning the appliance and bond upon the rail, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I do hereto alfix my signature.

EARL J. SHULER. 

